hayden



NJETERS, PMOTO-LITHOGRAPNER. WASHINGTON D C TO WHOM IT MAY CONOERN:

IMPnovnn 'rnA'onBUoKLn dille brigante numb tu in tinte @tutti munt 'inenting pnt uf tige 5min.

Be it known that I, WILLIAMB. HAYDEN, of Columbus, in the county ot' Franklin, and State of Ohio, have invented an Improved Trace-Buckle; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is alperspectiveview, showing the improved buckle applied to a trace and hante-tug,

Figure 2 is a view of the buckle detached from the trace and tug.

Figure 3 shows the tongue detached from the buckle.

Figure lis a sectional view ofthe buckle, showing it in the act of clamping and holding the trace sections.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This inventionrelates'to a new and useful improvement on the construction of buckles. which are designed especially foruse in harness for attaching the traces to the tug-straps.

The nature of my invention consists in an open-skeleton buckle, which is provided with a self-adjusting tongue, and which is so constructed that in the act oi' pulling upon the traces and tug both will be clamped firmly in such manner as to relieve the tongue from considerable strain, and to prevent liability of tearing the trace at the holes or eyes, which are made for receiving said tongue; said buckle being also so conv structed that atraco can be shortened or lengthened, to suit the requirements'of the case, without removing its end from the boxvloop', as will be hereinafter described.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand my invention, I will describe its construction and operation.

The vopen-skeleton frame of the buckle consists of parallel side bars, a a, which are constructed with elongated eyes, a a', and connected together by'means of transverse bars b, e, and tZ. Those portions of the bars a-a beyond the intermediate cross-bar c are curved, so that the hanne-tug A and trace B both pass between the bars c and d, Aas shown in figs.. 1 and 4. The transverse bar c is somewhat reduced in diameter at the middle of its length for having pivoted to it the lever-tongue C, and keeping this tongue in place against lateral strain. The tongue C consists ot'ia thumb-piece, e, a curved. shoulder, e, and a stud, e2. It is constructed, as represented in g. 3, with an open' eye, e3, the projections of which are closed around the pivot-bar c, thus attaching this tongue to this bar, as represented in g. 4. Nearly 'opposite the stud e2 is the bar d, which is attened, as shown, so as to serve, in conjunction with the tongue C, for clamping the trace and haine-tug between lthem during the act of pulling. The transverse bar is constructed with an elongated eye, g, and also with oars h t, through which latter eyes are made for receiving the transverse pivot-pin t' of a double-cramping or clamping lever, D. This lever is clearly shown in digs. 1, 2, and 4. It is constructed with a transverse bar, j, to which the haine-tug is fastened, and also with a rounded transverse bar, 7c, which presses upon one side of the trace B, and serves, in conjunction with the bar j, as a means of griping and holding this trace firmly between them during the act of pui-ling upon the straps, as indicated in the sectional view, fig. 4. This result is brought about by lhaving the bar j, to which the hame-tug is attached, formed on the longest arms of the lever or `jointed section D, thus causing this portion to move forward and draw the bar k forcibly against the strap. The leverd tongue C is curved in such manner thatwhen its stud egis withdrawn from one of its holes through the trace B, the shoulderl e1 will press the straps intermediate between bars 7' and CZ inward, so that when the straps A and B are drawn tight, as in the act ofv pulling, the stud e2 will be forcibly held in place in one of its holes. This outward pressure ot' the straps upon the shoulder el will operate somewhat like a spring upon the tongue C for rendering it self-adjusting and keeping its stud cziirmly in place.

By the action of the clamping lever D upon the trace B very little strain will be received upon the pin or stud e2 audits tongue C: The trace is adjusted by pressing upon 'the finger-piece e ofthe tongue C until the 'stud ve2 is withdrawn from its hole in the trace, which latter is then adjusted without removingr its end from the box-loop E on the haine-tug. When there is no pulling strain upon the trace and haine-tug there will be no` clamping action of the lever D, and in proportion as the strain upon said straps is increased, so will this lever 4increase its clamping action.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is.- 1. The/construction of the tongue C with the bulge el, for the purpose described. 2. The combination of thebar cZ and the bulge c of the tongue C, for the purpose described. 3. Constructionof the lever D with thc bar lc, as and for thc purpose described. 4. The buckle, constructed and operating in the manner herein described. p

' wur. Harmen. Witnesses:

' J. HfManfrns, lossen Mosuly 

